ISTQB® CTFL 4.0 exam guide
Everything you need to know about the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0 exam: the format, the passing score, what each chapter is worth, the question types, and how to prepare. By Susan J Ruckman, ISTQB®-certified CTFL 4.0 instructor.
The exam format
The CTFL v4.0 exam has 40 multiple-choice questions, each worth one point, and you have 60 minutes. Candidates taking the exam in a language that isn’t their native language get 25% more time, so 75 minutes. You need 26 correct answers (65%) to pass. There’s no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a question blank.
The exam is closed book. You take it either at a test center or online with a remote proctor, depending on the exam provider. The certificate doesn’t expire.
Questions per chapter
Every CTFL v4.0 exam follows the same blueprint, published by ISTQB®: a fixed number of questions from each chapter of the syllabus, and from specific groups of learning objectives within each chapter. Chapter 4 (test techniques) and chapter 5 (test management) together make up half the exam.
| Chapter | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fundamentals of testing | 8 | 20% |
| 2. Testing throughout the software development lifecycle | 6 | 15% |
| 3. Static testing | 4 | 10% |
| 4. Test analysis and design | 11 | 27.5% |
| 5. Managing the test activities | 9 | 22.5% |
| 6. Test tools | 2 | 5% |
| Total | 40 | 100% |
K-levels: what each question asks you to do
Each learning objective in the syllabus has a knowledge level, and the question tests it at that level:
- K1 – Remember (8 questions). Recall a term, fact or list, such as the seven testing principles or the typical test work products.
- K2 – Understand (24 questions). Explain, compare or classify, for example the difference between a defect and a failure, or which test level a scenario describes.
- K3 – Apply (8 questions). Use a technique on a scenario: equivalence partitioning, boundary value analysis, decision tables, state transition testing, test estimation, test case prioritization and writing a defect report. Five of the eight K3 questions come from chapter 4.
Because K3 questions take longest, practice them until the method is automatic. They are also where well-prepared candidates pick up the points others lose.
Question types
Most questions have four options and one correct answer. A few say “(Select TWO)” and have five options; you only get the point if you choose both correct answers. Some K3 questions include a table, a state diagram or a piece of code to work from.
Booking the exam
You book the exam with an ISTQB® member board or an exam provider. In the US, ASTQB/AT*SQA exams run on Kryterion Webassessor and cost about $229. Other boards use Pearson VUE (at a test center or online with OnVUE) or iSQI’s online exam platform. Each provider’s screen works differently, which is why simul8R lets you practice on the exact screen you’ll see, including the online check-in. See our step-by-step booking guide.
A study plan that works
- Read the syllabus once, quickly, to see the shape of it. Note the learning objectives and their K-levels.
- Learn chapter by chapter, spending the most time on chapters 4 and 5. Work every technique by hand on small examples.
- Learn the terms used in the syllabus (our plain-English CTFL glossary has flashcards). Many wrong options are “almost right” definitions.
- Take a timed practice exam early to find your weak chapters, then review every explanation, including the ones you got right.
- Keep practicing until you score 75% or more on several different full-length exams. That margin covers exam-day nerves.
Many people prepare in two to four weeks of part-time study. A live course condenses it into 24 hours with an instructor who can answer your questions.
Exam-day technique
- Budget 1.5 minutes per question. Answer the easy ones first and flag anything that takes longer.
- Read every word. “Most likely”, “best”, “not” and “first” change the answer.
- Eliminate. Cross out options that are wrong by the syllabus definition, then compare what’s left.
- Answer by the syllabus, not by how your company does it.
- Leave time to review flagged questions, and never leave one blank.
Practice on your real exam screen
simul8R gives you full 40-question practice exams built to the official blueprint, with explanations for every answer, on the Pearson VUE, Kryterion or iSQI screen. A free practice exam is included.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the ISTQB CTFL 4.0 exam?
40 multiple-choice questions, each worth one point.
What is the passing score for CTFL 4.0?
65%, which is 26 of the 40 questions.
How long is the CTFL exam?
60 minutes, or 75 minutes if you take it in a language that isn’t your native language.
Do I need experience or a course to take the CTFL exam?
No. There are no prerequisites. A course isn’t required, but structured training and full-length practice exams make passing much more likely, especially for the K3 technique questions.
Does the CTFL certificate expire?
No. The Foundation Level certificate is valid for life.
Which chapters carry the most questions?
Chapter 4, test analysis and design (11 questions), and chapter 5, managing the test activities (9 questions). Together they are half the exam.
Is CTFL v3.1 still valid?
Certificates earned under earlier syllabi stay valid. New candidates take the exam for the v4.0 syllabus, which is the current version.
ISTQB® is a registered trademark of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board. Exam rules can change; check your exam provider’s current candidate information before you book.